What is Depression?

Depression is more thanjust feeling down, it is a mood state characterised by a sense of inadequacy, a feeling of despondency, a decrease in activity or reactivity, pessimism, sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness. It is important to recognise that feeling down on occasion is a normal – and important – part of life. Sad and distressful events occur in everyone’s life, and responding to them emotionally is healthy.

Clinical Depression, the type of depression for which people need to seek help, is where any of the above characteristics are extreme, intense and begin to interfere with a person’s ability to function. Other symptoms may include:

A reduction in concentration and memory

Decision making problems

A urge to withdraw from others

A reduction in the enjoyment of previously pleasurable activities

A loss of appetite or overeating

Insomnia or excessive sleeping

Fatigue

Loss of sex drive.

Neglect or self care

Clinical Depression can occur on its own or in conjunction with other psychological problems, for example, Anxiety, Eating Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

What Causes Depression?

There is no single cause for depression but the following factors, or a combination of them, will increase your vulnerability:

Loneliness

Lack of social support

Recent stressful life experiences (such as death of a loved one, illness, divorce or abusive relationships)

Family history of depression

Marital or relationship problems

Financial strain

Early childhood trauma or abuse

Alcohol or drug abuse

Unemployment or underemployment

Health problems or chronic pain

The metaphor of depression as a ‘black dog’ is now commonly used (in fact it was used by Winston Churchill), this following short film shows how challenging living with depression can be:

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How Common is Depression?

There are many ‘types’ of depression. The World Health Organisation (WHO) state that currently 40% of disability worldwide is due to depression and anxiety. The most recent Psychiatric Morbidity Survey indicates that there are some 6 million people in the UK (approximately 3 million with depression as their primary problem and 3 million with an anxiety disorder)